1. I was referred to Andrew by a well respected and trustworthy friend of mine in Los Angeles.
2. My understanding of what Andrew does with the often referenced site "Alchemy of the Heart" is sort of a contracted work type gig. The website is not managed by him and he does not own the company from what I've gathered. It seems the sort of situation where the organisation hires Andrew as their spiritual guru and while Andrew is at their retreats he gives advice, performs services, and offers sweats. This may be a "loop hole" for in a way technically having sweats paid for, but not by Andrews design. Attendees seem to pay Alchemy of the Heart for the retreats, and Andrew happens to also offer Sweats at these retreats while there.
3. I have not personally attended one of these retreats though, I've only spoken with many who have and are involved with Andrew. The sweats I attended at Andrews home are absolutely free and money is not mentioned. Donations are not even mentioned, but when asked Andrew will point out a little donation container where someone could put any amount if they so chose. However, again, I do not have personal experience with these retreats and this is only what I've "gathered" in researching and through overheard conversations. If you want to discredit this first paragraph then that's fine, I'd understand.
4. Regarding Sun Dances, I recently attended a Sun Dance in South Dakota with Andrew and the Oglala Sioux tribe, whom Vernon Cross lead. I met Darlene Cross and the majority of the tribe there. Andrew is indeed a Sun Dancer and adopted by Darlene's family. I personally met the family, Michael - Vernon's son and co-patriarch, Eric - Also Vernon's son and co-patriarch, and many others. Andrew pierces at the Sun Dance and does not claim any sort of official leadership in the ceremonies that is noticeable to a non-native. Andrew has never claimed to myself or others that I've met to lead Sun Dances or have any authority to do so. Darlene absolutely seems to trust and love Andrew from the interactions I've witnessed. I've stood in one of the Cross family homes and met nieces, cousins, brothers and sisters. They all seem to love and respect Andrew. Andrew refers to Darlene as "mom", Michael as his "brother", etc.. and this is accepted by the family. For all intents and purposes he is a member of their family from their demonstrated perspective and his own.
5. I am aware of Andrew working with men to provide retreats for western men interested in spirituality. The cost of these retreats and where the money goes, I have not asked nor do I care. {Al's note:Bolding is mine] I have heard mention similar to other posts here defending Andrew that much of the costs go to operating expenses, as the retreats are typically held in isolated and beautiful places owned by a specific family - the family is otherwise un-associated with Andrew.
6. I would suggest from my personal experience, if Vernon is considered legitimate, and if the Cross family on the Pinewood reservation and the Oglala are a respected Lakota tribe, then I can vouch for the legitimacy of Andrews adoption into the family and their deep respect for him, and thus Andrew should not be considered a fraud.
7. Much of the speculation and misdirected assumptions in this thread are exactly that. People are posting here with preconceived notions and intentions not based in fact. If you really want to confirm Andrew's legitimacy, contact the Cross family directly! Michael has a phone, but the number I will not give out. I'd imagine other Lakota could find a way to contact the family, but I'm not too familiar with how in-touch other families are with each other on the reservation there.
8. To list Andrew in the confirmed fraud section based solely upon the *opinions* in this thread and unsupported arguments is a disservice to him, and to the credibility of this website.
9. I do not see any confirmed proof beyond conjecture and arguments of Andrew being a fraud, and my own personal experiences suggest the complete opposite, so what does this website base its decisions upon? Irrational arguments and preconceived notions?
10. If Andrew Soliz is a fraud, then Vernon's surviving family is supporting this fraud wholeheartedly,
11. and so is the Oglala Sioux tribe. This seems absolutely unlikely and absurd.
12. Andrew's legitimacy can 100% be confirmed by actually doing the legwork to contact the cross family.
13. I mean no disrespect to other posters in this thread or this site, but what is posted in this thread attacking Andrew's reputation, and this thread being moved to confirmed frauds, absolutely hurts the credit of those accusers here and this website.
Edit: I wrote "Sacred Heart" when I meant to write "Alchemy of the Heart" for the website I mention.
Hello,
I added numbers to make it clearer what I am replying to.
1. You do not name this person. Why?
2. You understand incorrectly. If you had bothered to actually read the thread, you'd see the site is owned by Soliz and his wife.
3. False. If you had bothered to actually read the thread, the website owned by Soliz clearly says payment required in advance.
4. False. You clearly are lying here. Like Earth pointed out, Cross died some years back.
Again...If you had bothered to actually read the thread, you'd see his widow Darlene has specifically said her husband did not authorize anyone.
Again...If you had bothered to actually read the thread, you'd see that Soliz has consistently refused to answer when asked why he lies about being authorized when Darlene Cross says otherwise.
5. The fact you openly say you don't care that ceremonies are being sold says volumes. You clearly understand as little about Native ceremony as every other member of Soliz's circle that has come here.
6. False. Once again, If you had bothered to actually read the thread...you'd have seen the evidence and would not be making one false statement after another.
7. False. The only falsehoods, speculation, and misdirected assumptions being made in here are by you. Once again...If you had bothered to actually read the thread, you would not be looking either foolish or a liar.
8. False. The only disservice being done in here is by you. You defend him without knowing anything, without bothering to look at the evidence right in front of your face.
Are you always this lazy in your spiritual search?
If you had bothered to actually read the thread...
9. You don't see any because you were too lazy to look. That seems to be typical of every last Soliz defender so far.
If you had bothered to actually read the thread...
10. But they are not. Darlene specifically says NO ONE was authorized by her husband and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.
If you had bothered to actually read the thread...
11. It is absurd. Simply because it is not true. And you would know that...
If you had bothered to actually read the thread.
12. We did the work. You did not. You were so incredibly lazy you could not read what was inches from your face.
If you had bothered to actually read the thread...
13. Actually you did quite a bit of disrespect. You did that disrespect the first time you convinced yourself that pay to pray was not that, simply because it was done indirectly.
You were being disrespectful when you attended that stereotypical mockery of Native culture Soliz has in his home. Playing Indian in a tipi in a backyard is not just disrespectful but racist. It's like a kid playing dressup on Halloween. But a small child has an excuse. What is yours?
You were being disrespectful when you said you did not care if Soliz sells ceremony in his men's retreats.
You were being disrespectful when you made lots of unfounded accusations in here with no evidence.
And finally you were being quite disrespectful when you insulted Earth, and then went on to smear her for another very long post yet again.
You are banned from posting for one week. But you can still login and contact people by IM.
Contact the mods by IM or earth by IM. You need to think about your insults, lack of respect, scattershot accusations, smears, personal attacks, and general immaturity.
If you can be more adult and less insulting, and actually know what you're talking about by bothering to read before leveling false accusations, then the ban will be lifted.
